Abstract
Male mating behavior of the stored product pest beetleTrogoderma glabrum (Herbst) was analyzed into three major phases: arousal/searching, preliminary recognition, and genital (copulatory). Airborne pheromone released by calling females elicits male arousal via antennal sensillae. Contact chemoreception via male mouthpart sensillae appears to be necessary for copulation to occur. A procedure was developed for quantitative bioassay of presumptive pheromone compounds in both airborne and contact chemoreception. (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecenal, present in airborne pheromone, but not detectable in extracts of whole females, elicits both arousal and attempted copulation. The activity of (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecenal is equal to that of the total airborne pheromone. Activity of additional possible pheromone component candidates [including (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecen-1-ol, γ-caprolactone,n-hexanoic acid, and methyl (Z)-7-hexadecenoate] was investigated. Evidence for a behavioral role forn-hexanoic acid is presented.
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Greenblatt, R.E., Burkholder, W.E., Cross, J.C. et al. Chemical communication in the mating behavior ofTrogoderma glabrum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). J Chem Ecol 2, 285–297 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988278
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988278